Businesses in the City and County of Honolulu affected by the recent storms and flooding in December may qualify for a delay in filing their federal taxes, according to the Internal Revenue Service.

The IRS is postponing certain deadlines for taxpayers who reside or have a business in the disaster area until Feb. 9, 2009. The postponement applies to return filing, tax payment and certain other time-sensitive acts otherwise due between Dec. 10, 2008, and Feb. 9, 2009.

In addition, the IRS will waive the failure to deposit penalties for employment and excise deposits due on or after Dec. 10, 2008, and on or before Dec. 29, 2008, as long as the deposits were made by Dec. 29, 2008.

If an affected taxpayer receives a penalty notice from the IRS, the taxpayer should call the telephone number on the notice to have the IRS abate any interest and any late filing or late payment penalties that would otherwise apply. Penalties or interest will be abated only for taxpayers who have an original or extended filing, payment or deposit due date, including an extended filing or payment due date, from Dec. 10, 2008, and Feb. 9, 2009.

IRS computer systems automatically identify taxpayers located in the covered disaster area and apply automatic filing and payment relief. Affected taxpayers who reside or have a business located outside the covered disaster area must call the IRS disaster hotline at 1-866-562-5227 to request tax relief.